Poland says Airbus helicopter deal was bad for its security

FILE -- In this June 18, 2015 file photo U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopters support soldiers during the NATO Noble Jump exercise on a training range near Swietoszow Zagan, Poland. Polish leaders say the country is buying Polish-made Black Hawk helicopters as it modernizes the army. The announcement comes days after Poland scrapped plans to buy 50 French-made military helicopters from Airbus Helicopters for 3.14 billion euros (US dollar 3.5 billion). (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz, file)
(The Associated Press)

WARSAW, Poland – Poland's conservative government says it rejected a multi-billion euro deal to buy Airbus military helicopters because it was bad for state security.

Poland ended negotiations with Airbus Helicopters last week over a 3.14 billion-euro ($3.5 billion) deal, straining ties with the French government, which partly owns parent company Airbus Group. Instead, Poland will buy Black Hawk helicopters made by U.S. company Lockheed Martin in Poland.

On Tuesday, Airbus Helicopters wrote an open letter to Poland's Prime Minister Beata Szydlo to protest the decision.

Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz said the Airbus deal would have allowed the company to take over a servicing plant in Lodz, in central Poland, something the government was against. He spoke at the plant, where he and Szydlo assured workers they won't lose their jobs.